IT is finally here. By that I mean I’m finally getting around to uploading it here.
The premier is
Oct 16, 2010, Saturday
Auditorium Menara PKNS, Petaling Jaya (in PJ new town)
8pm
Kisah Tauke Mancis dan Minyak Tumpah is a story of a temple and two communities in Shah Alam. The temple is special to its devotees but changes to the surrounding landscape have made it difficult to stay. The fight to move the temple is a lesson that all communities and local authorities should take to heart. When we ignore history and fail to manage different religious needs, we create fuel for the fires of extremism.
The film was written and directed by Sheridan Mahavera and Siti Nurbaiyah Nadzmi. We were very fortunate to have worked with some world-class talents who made this film possible. The crew comprised those who had worked on some of the most renown Malaysian indie films and those slick commercials you see on ASTRO.
Money, technical, moral and emotional support was provided by local NGO Pusat Komunikasi Masyarakat (KOMAS).
If you could spend RM20 on popcorn, parking and tikets for a Hollywood, Bollywood, Kollywood or a Hong Kong-wood film or cetak rompak DVD that tells you nothing about what happens about your own homeland, why wouldn't you come to watch a film about people who could be your own neighbours and a place that looks just like your Taman for FREE.
And not just one film but three films about your homeland that will be shown on the same night. The premier is part of the Freedom Film Fest 2010 which is organised by KOMAS.
The annual festival showcases documentary films on subjects too panas for Malaysian TV but which every Malaysian should watch.
If you can't make the PJ screening you can catch FFF 2010 at:
1. Johor Bahru
Oct 23, 8pm
Tropical Inn, JB
2. Miri
Oct 31, 2pm
Pacific Orient Hotel
3. Penang
Nov 13, 8pm
Caring Society Complex (Complex Masyarakat Penyayang), Jalan Utama Georgetown
4. Singapura
Nov 14, 2pm
Substation Arts Centre, Jalan Armenian
How to book tickets for all venues:
Reservations will be open from Oct 1 at http://freedomfilmfest.komas.org/. The tickets can be collected at the venue on the screening date. Jangan lambat kerana First come first serve.
And did we mention that admission is FREE?
Showing posts with label freedom film fest taman ixora shah alam. Show all posts
Showing posts with label freedom film fest taman ixora shah alam. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Sunday, May 2, 2010
“One day, they could come for you.”
How I got into the story started from last year while I was in the NST. This is the article.
The news reporters from paper’s Selangor bureau had covered much ground when it came to the cow’s head protest. They had spoken to people in Taman Ixora, Section 23, Shah Alam and gotten responses to the protest.
There was also a lot of feedback about how residents felt about the relocation of a historic temple to their neighbourhood. Since it was the relocation of the temple that supposedly sparked the protest.
But my article was not specifically on the cow’s head protest and chaotic MBSA dialogue that followed. It was how that incident tied into the rise of Malay supremacist groups. The article also looked at whether such a gruesome display of civic rights meant that the average Malay was getting more intolerant and that they were prepared to resort to more vicious means to get their feelings across.
Somehow that incident never left my mind. That the cow’s head protestors were a vocal, militant minority had been established. But what I wanted to know was what the “silent majority” of Taman Ixora felt towards them.
More importantly, why did this silent majority sit back and allow the militant minority to act and speak in their name? Were they scared of them? Did they not care that a group of 10 or so men had hijacked their community and gone on to do things on their behalf?
If they could allow this group to lord over them, what happens when they do something more drastic the next time some communal issue crops up? For instance, if non-Muslims want to have special gatherings or kenduri at their houses and the noise and guests spill out into the streets? Would the community sit by while this group goes up and threatens the non-Muslim residents?
It sounds paranoid but think about it. If you sat by and allowed a group of people to carry the head of a dead cow through the streets in your name, then you’re telegraphing to them that you agree with them.
Emboldened by your permission, they’ll feel that they can do anything. The next time they won't be reluctant to start intimidating your neighbours. If you sit by, then you’re sending a message to those bullies that you’re not going to get involved. That this kind of behaviour is ok. Even worse, that you agree with them.
It’s like that saying when the Nazis started rounding up people for death camps in 1940s Germany:
“When they came for the communists, I did nothing. When they came for the Jews, I did nothing. And then one day, they came for me.”
This is what the film was going to be about. Whether the people of Taman Ixora, Section 23 will allow history to repeat itself.
ends
The news reporters from paper’s Selangor bureau had covered much ground when it came to the cow’s head protest. They had spoken to people in Taman Ixora, Section 23, Shah Alam and gotten responses to the protest.
There was also a lot of feedback about how residents felt about the relocation of a historic temple to their neighbourhood. Since it was the relocation of the temple that supposedly sparked the protest.
But my article was not specifically on the cow’s head protest and chaotic MBSA dialogue that followed. It was how that incident tied into the rise of Malay supremacist groups. The article also looked at whether such a gruesome display of civic rights meant that the average Malay was getting more intolerant and that they were prepared to resort to more vicious means to get their feelings across.
Somehow that incident never left my mind. That the cow’s head protestors were a vocal, militant minority had been established. But what I wanted to know was what the “silent majority” of Taman Ixora felt towards them.
More importantly, why did this silent majority sit back and allow the militant minority to act and speak in their name? Were they scared of them? Did they not care that a group of 10 or so men had hijacked their community and gone on to do things on their behalf?
If they could allow this group to lord over them, what happens when they do something more drastic the next time some communal issue crops up? For instance, if non-Muslims want to have special gatherings or kenduri at their houses and the noise and guests spill out into the streets? Would the community sit by while this group goes up and threatens the non-Muslim residents?
It sounds paranoid but think about it. If you sat by and allowed a group of people to carry the head of a dead cow through the streets in your name, then you’re telegraphing to them that you agree with them.
Emboldened by your permission, they’ll feel that they can do anything. The next time they won't be reluctant to start intimidating your neighbours. If you sit by, then you’re sending a message to those bullies that you’re not going to get involved. That this kind of behaviour is ok. Even worse, that you agree with them.
It’s like that saying when the Nazis started rounding up people for death camps in 1940s Germany:
“When they came for the communists, I did nothing. When they came for the Jews, I did nothing. And then one day, they came for me.”
This is what the film was going to be about. Whether the people of Taman Ixora, Section 23 will allow history to repeat itself.
ends
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